The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Show Improvement In Second Scrimmage
8/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Both offensive and defensive improvement were the highlights of the UAB football team's second scrimmage of the preseason, held Tuesday on the UAB campus. The Blazers scrimmaged for an hour and a half of the two-hour workout. Overall, head coach Watson Brown was pleased with the team's progress from last Wednesday's scrimmage.
"I thought the offense was pretty good today," said Brown. A lot of different guys got carries. The execution was better, going to the right receiver was better and throwing on timing was a little better. I think the offense comes along slower than the defense a lot of times. We had 18 different guys catch the ball today, so it's going around to different people.
"The reason I felt like the passing game was better today was because we were able to run the ball better. When the running game is going, it takes a little of the pressure off Darrell (Hackney).
"The defense gave up a few too many big plays, but they also got more big plays today. I didn't think one side of the ball was better than the other. I thought there were big plays on both sides of the ball."
Redshirt freshman Bo Moncur led all runners with 44 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Sophomore William Paulk led the Blazer receivers with four catches for 37 yards. Junior wide receiver Bradley Chavez had two receptions for 27 yards, including the lone touchdown catch of the day, a nine-yard strike from Darrell Hackney.
Hackney went 10-of-14 for 131 yards on the day.
Brown was once again pleased with the play of backup quarterbacks Curtis Falany and Chris Williams, but said neither has won the No. 2 spot.
"I thought they were both pretty good," said Brown. "Both of them had some nice throws today and neither had an interception. We will continue to look at that position."
Williams was 8-of-12 for 144 yards and Falany went 10-of-13 for 79 yards.
Junior placekicker Nick Hayes, named to the 2003 Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List, was 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, connecting on three attempts from 40 or more yards, including a 47-yarder.
However, special teams was Brown's biggest concern of the day.
"A lot of special teams is still up in the air," Brown said. "I didn't think we blocked very well on kickoffs and our punt returns didn't look very good. That was one thing that didn't get better from the first scrimmage to the second."
Sophomore running back Dan Burks missed Tuesday's scrimmage, but should be back for Thursday's practice.
"We hope Dan will be ready Thursday," said Brown. "He probably could have gone today, but he hadn't practiced, so we decided to hold him out."
The Blazers will take Wednesday off as fall classes begin. The team will return to the practice field Thursday at 2:40 p.m. and begin putting in the game plan for Baylor.
UAB opens the season Aug. 30 at Baylor. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
